Building a UNIVERSE in storytelling

“Modern Mythology”- that is what I thought.?There will be a time in a hundred years, when in a textbook, references to Hercules and Superman will be in the same sentence. I was part of writing what will be modern mythology.?Once in a lifetime doesn’t quite capture the feeling. I was sitting in a packed conference room at DC Headquarters watching the pilot episode for Arrow- months before it debuted on the CW.?We all knew sitting in that room- ?there was something big...something special

After 11 years of intertwining storylines and numerous spin-offs, The CW's ambitious Arrowverse franchise, known for its groundbreaking shared universe came to a close with the series finale of "The Flash." As the Arrowverse expanded, it incorporated a wide range of DC superhero shows and movies, even merging various iterations of Batman and Superman, along with appearances from characters across different eras and universes. The series "The Flash" played a pivotal role in expanding the Arrowverse, presenting a brighter counterpart to the darker tone of "Arrow." The chemistry between the characters from "The Flash" and "Supergirl" led to a successful crossover event, ultimately resulting in the full integration of "Supergirl" into the Arrowverse.

The peak of the Arrowverse came with the crossover event "Crisis On Infinite Earths," which united characters from various universes and timelines. The event showcased the meticulous groundwork laid years earlier, rewarding long-time viewers with numerous references and surprises. The finale of "Arrow" incorporated the monumental events of "Crisis," providing a conclusion to the series and setting the stage for the formation of future storytelling.

This this how a single property, a somewhat modest character (at the time) The Green Arrow ushered in; the path to ?a series of franchises that then built up to a shared “universe”. It required planning, deep deliberation and thought given to all the various expressions of the DC Comics IP, across its various characters, from video games to film to consumer products.?One built on another in such a way that that the end result was truly greater than the sum of its parts.

I’m very fortunate to have been part of this grand experiment in storytelling and am looking forward to re-watching everything from the beginning with these insights in mind!